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Local people given budget power Local people given budget power
(about 2 hours later)
People in England will have a direct say in the priorities for council budgets under new government plans.People in England will have a direct say in the priorities for council budgets under new government plans.
Communities and Local Government Secretary Hazel Blears will announce pilot projects in 10 areas later.Communities and Local Government Secretary Hazel Blears will announce pilot projects in 10 areas later.
Residents will decide on how budgets of up to £23m are spent, from recruiting more police to providing play areas. Residents will decide on how budgets from £200,000 to £23m are spent, from recruiting more police to providing play areas.
She will make the announcement at the annual conference of the Local Government Association (LGA), which has questioned public desire for the plans. She will address a conference of the Local Government Association, which has questioned public desire for the plans.
Local debatesLocal debates
It will be Hazel Blears' first major speech since taking over from Ruth Kelly following Prime Minister Gordon Brown's reshuffle.It will be Hazel Blears' first major speech since taking over from Ruth Kelly following Prime Minister Gordon Brown's reshuffle.
Under the plans, large amounts of council spending would be decided by residents, through local debates, votes and public meetings.Under the plans, large amounts of council spending would be decided by residents, through local debates, votes and public meetings.
The Guardian newspaper reported that councils would have to hold ballots before deciding where money should be targeted.
Although similar projects have already been run on a smaller scale with community grants, Ms Blears will say the idea will be extended to cover major parts of local council funding.Although similar projects have already been run on a smaller scale with community grants, Ms Blears will say the idea will be extended to cover major parts of local council funding.
Democracy should be about much more than casting a vote every few years Hazel BlearsDemocracy should be about much more than casting a vote every few years Hazel Blears
People will be able to choose whether they want to spend more money on services like extra community safety wardens to tackle anti-social behaviour, new play areas, cleaning up parks, or extra CCTV.People will be able to choose whether they want to spend more money on services like extra community safety wardens to tackle anti-social behaviour, new play areas, cleaning up parks, or extra CCTV.
Ms Blears will say the aim is for every neighbourhood to have control of a "community kitty" within five years.Ms Blears will say the aim is for every neighbourhood to have control of a "community kitty" within five years.
The LGA, itself under new leadership, believes it would be better to devolve the money to frontline councillors who could consult on how the money was spent in their wards.The LGA, itself under new leadership, believes it would be better to devolve the money to frontline councillors who could consult on how the money was spent in their wards.
Power shiftPower shift
Ms Blears, herself a former councillor, said it was not about "bypassing councils", but aimed at getting local people and the councils together. Ms Blears, a former councillor, said it was not about "bypassing councils", but aimed at getting local people and the councils together.
She will tell the Birmingham conference that, as well as delivering a real shift of power to town halls, the government of Mr Brown will ensure it is also passed on to local communities. She will tell the Birmingham conference: "Democracy should be about much more than casting a vote every few years," she will tell the conference.
"Democracy should be about much more than casting a vote every few years," she will tell the conference.
"It should be a daily activity, not an abstract theory. Local people know the needs of their area better than anyone.""It should be a daily activity, not an abstract theory. Local people know the needs of their area better than anyone."
We would give people a lot of power to spend a lot of money David Cameron
The 10 pilot areas are Merseyside, Nottinghamshire, Birmingham, Lewisham, Bradford, Salford, Sunderland, Newcastle, Southampton and St Helens.The 10 pilot areas are Merseyside, Nottinghamshire, Birmingham, Lewisham, Bradford, Salford, Sunderland, Newcastle, Southampton and St Helens.
Ms Blears told the BBC that it had already been tried in Bradford: "It was really interesting... they had a lot of young people coming together and they thought 'are they going to vote to spend everything on young people?' and in fact after a big discussion they actually voted to spend some of the money on services for old people as well." In an earlier speech to the conference, Conservative leader David Cameron said he wanted a more "decentralised country, with local people in direct control of the decisions that affect them".
His party wants to abolish regional assemblies and hand their powers to local councils and to phase out ring-fenced grants to give councils more control over their spending.
Mr Cameron also backs more powerful elected mayors for major cities to help raise the profile of local government.
"Today, Hazel Blears has announced that she is giving people a little bit of power to spend a little bit of money," he said.
"By contrast, we would give people a lot of power to spend a lot of money."